It’s Raining Rogues by Various Authors

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Various

Release Date: May 30, 2025

What a fun collection of novellas! Every single story was well-written and different, yet they all lived up to the Anthology title of “It’s Raining Rogues”! My overall rating for this book is a rough average of all the novellas, based on my rating of each story.

A Rascal, A Romantic, and A Rarity – Aubrey Wynne
Everything was going according to her plan… Miss Phoebe Weston knows how her life should unfold. She will meet the perfect handsome, titled man during her first Season, fall in love, and live happily ever after. The first two items are accomplished immediately, she assumes the third is checked, and then calamity strikes. Her fiancé was a ghastly womanizer, Phoeve wasn’t sure she ever truly cared him, and her own widowed father had found love before her. Serendipity saves the day… Mr. Charles Wilkens reluctantly agrees to a business trip—on Christmas Day—for his uncle. Along the way, he is thrown together with the woman who stole his heart after one glance in Hyde Park. Her broken engagement could be his chance to win her affection. Would he be a rake to swoop in when she is so vulnerable? Or is all fair in love and war? When reality slaps Miss Phoebe Weston out of her fantasy world, Mr. Charles Wilkens is there to catch her before she hits the cold, unforgiving ground. Can betrayal by one man show her the possibility of true love with another? 4.5 stars; Features a very sweet second chance at love, & love at first sight tropes – includes two secondary romances that have their own stories in other books. This was one of my favorites in the anthology.

Tangled in a Tempest – Dawn Brower
Lady Phillipa “Pippa” Hartwell has spent years loathing the arrogant and insufferable Duke of Haverleigh. Their animosity began when Pippa was just a girl, and the duke, five years older, made it his mission to tease and torment her. As the years passed, their fiery clashes only grew, especially with Haverleigh being her brother’s best friend. Yet, despite the friction between them, Pippa can’t ignore the deep-seated attraction that simmers beneath her dislike. Now, a decade later, Pippa’s brother has inherited the earldom, and the duke returns to Whitmore Hall to visit his lifelong friend. Pippa and Haverleigh’s bitter rivalry is as strong as ever, but when a fierce storm traps them together in an old hunting lodge, everything changes. Forced to spend days in each other’s company, the animosity between them shifts—into something far more dangerous: a tempest of passion, longing, and need neither can deny. Can Pippa and Haverleigh overcome their shared past and their mutual hatred to discover a love that neither expected, or will their unresolved emotions tear them apart forever? A tempest of hate, desire, and undeniable love awaits in this tale of passion and second chances. 4 stars; Features an enemies to lovers trope – felt a bit rushed, but overall very good.

Rogue to the Rescue – Jane Charles
They fell in love under the guise of anonymity, but when the masks were removed and the truth revealed, their hearts were shattered. Now Lady Victoria Westbrook is in danger and the only person who can protect her is the very man she had given her heart to not long ago, Mr. Benedick Valentine. While a storm brews outside, will the flames of desire rekindle their hearts or will all be lost if Benedick fails to save her from the danger that stalks? 4.5 stars; Features second chance, misunderstanding, & class difference tropes – series crossover. Another favorite in the anthology.

The Storm Between Us – Lizzie C Koz
He left her with heartbreak. He came back with demons. Margot Ainsworth thought she’d buried the past—along with the boy who shattered her heart. Her brother’s best friend, Eli Wyndham had once been her everything, until tragedy struck and he vanished without a word. Now, five years later, he’s back—scarred, titled, and tasked with watching. 2.5 stars; This ended up being a straight-up Contemporary in Period Dress, it seemed like the author had no desire to even try to adhere to the era standards – but does touch on grief and addiction and addresses those issues with respect and compassion.

Their Forbidden Storm – Christina Diane
Lady Lucy Lygon was raised to obey and play her part. But all she wants is to surrender to the man her world says she can’t have. Clive Jones is off-limits in every way, yet one stolen kiss in the stables ignites a passion too powerful to deny. As desire turns reckless and every forbidden touch risks exposure, Lucy must choose: a life of privilege without love… or a scandalous future. 4 stars; Features class difference, forbidden love, & love conquers all tropes.

Caught in the Storm with an Earl – Ramona Elmes
On the eve of a house party to find him a bride, the Earl of Stanhope and Mrs. Aster, the governess of his niece and nephew, seek refuge in an old hunting cottage during a storm. Shocking them both, they kiss, not just a chaste touching of their lips, but a fiery, earth-shattering embrace. They vow never to speak of it again. However, as guests arrive, they struggle to forget the moment and wonder. 4.5 stars; Features class difference, friends to lovers, & love after lost love tropes. Another favorite in the anthology.

Miss Harrow and the Tenacious Duke – Aileen Fish
A cold-hearted duke. A pragmatic miss. Who will be the first to surrender? Having turned down proposals from three very dull men, Charlotte is less than hopeful when introduced to Cecil. He’s nice enough, but very, very dull. Cecil’s friend the Duke of Thornton comes to the rescue. Thornton’s magical words coming from Cecil’s notes almost sway Charlotte’s heart, but when she learns who’s behind the sweet sentiments, she’s outraged. Her anger intrigues Thornton, who has worked hard to keep his heart locked away. Without realizing, he allows Charlotte a glimpse of the man he could become. And Charlotte never backs away from a challenge. 2 stars; This was miss for me, I found it hard to like the characters, and the attempts to make twists on Cyrano de Bergerac / Pride & Prejudice failed for me, however, I have read and loved other books by this author, so I think this was just a rare miss.

How the Girl got the Earl – Amanda Mariel
Spring is in full bloom, and so is scandal… Lady Alexandra Peregrine has always been more interested in adventure than marriage. But when she finds herself unexpectedly drawn into a flirtation with the roguishly charming Magnus Berkshire, Earl of Langley, she is tempted to indulge in a harmless springtime dalliance. After all, what harm could a fleeting romance bring? Magnus has spent years dodging matchmakers and meddlesome mothers, but Alexandra is unlike any lady he’s ever met—quick-witted, bold, and entirely too tempting. What begins as playful banter and stolen kisses soon turns into something far more dangerous—genuine affection. As society whispers and hearts become entangled, what started as a spring fling threatens to blossom into something far deeper. But can Magnus convince Alexandra that love is not just a passing season, but a promise worth keeping forever? A witty, romantic, and utterly enchanting Regency novella where flirtation turns to forever and love blooms when it’s least expected. 4.5 stars; a delightful battle of the wills that had me smiling like a fool for most of the book.

I loved the interconnecting theme of each couple getting caught in the rain and the love stories that ensued. I had previously read and enjoyed most of these authors, so I knew I was in for a treat, and I was not disappointed. I also found a new to me author that has me anxious to go check out her backlist – even though I already have a TBR pile that is a mile and half high! Overall, this was a great collection of novellas and while I didn’t love all of them, I enjoyed them all and would definitely recommend grabbing this collection while you can!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *